Trolley-retriever.



J. E. GUNDRY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1915.

1,200,342. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Jig/1 J. E. GUNDRY. TROIQLEY RETRIEVER. APPLICATION man APR. 2. 191.5.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. E. GUNDRY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. I9l5.

1,200,342. Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- J. E. GUNDHY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER. APPLICATION FILED APR-2,1915.

1,200,342. Patented ott. 3,1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

JAMES E. GUNDB-Y, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

TBOLLEY-RETBIEVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Application filed April 2, 1915. Serial No. 18,705.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. GUNDRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Retrievers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

A great number of different types of trolley retrievers have been designed and placed upon the market, but in general they have proved objectionable in certainrespects, as for instance, permitting the trolley rope to run a considerable distance when the trolley leaves the wire, so that the action of the retriever spring is thereby greatly lessened. Then, too, in some cases the retriever spring is of insufficient capacity to completely return the trolley to normal position. In most retrievers the device is only capable of once retrieving the trolley, and thereafter must be replaced by another retriever generally carried upon the car, in which the retriever spring is already wound. Other devices necessitate the use of more than one cable, thus complicating the structure and requiring the double cable to be connected and disconnected from the trolley rope when the device is mounted upon or taken from a car.

This invention, however, relates to an improved type of trolley retriever wherein only one cable is used, andin which the trolley drum on' which the cable is wound is not only locked from rotation immediately after the trolley pole springs away from the trolley wire, but is further interlocked with a heavy "retriever spring which is thereafter released to rotate the drum in the reverse direction, winding the trolley cable thereon and retracting the trolley pole to normal position. I It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a trolley retriever provided with a drum for the trolley cable normally under light spring tension to permit ordinary adjustments of the trolley pole to take place and acting when the trolley pole leaves the wire to check the same in its movement, interlock the drum with a powerful retrieving spring, and thereafter release the spring to rotate the drum and wind the trolley cable thereon, and retract the trolley pole.

.It is also an object of this invention to construct a trolley retriever comprising a drum for the trolley cable and a powerful retrieving spring with mechanisms acting automatically to lock said drum from movement when the trolley springs from the wire, and then acting to lock said drum to the retriever spring, with means acting subsequently to release the retriever spring and cause rotation of the drum in a reverse direction to retrieve the trolley, after which the retriever spring is again tensioned by unwinding the retrieved trolley from the drum the desired amount for normal adjustment of'the trolley pole.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a trolley retriever embracing a drum upon which the trolley cable is wound normally under light spring tension, and acting when suddenly rotated in one direc tion to engage centrifugal pawls with a locking mechanism by which thedrum is locked to a powerful retriever spring, and means acting thereafter with further movement of the drum to release said spring to cause said drum to be rotated in an opposite direction to wind the cable thereon under the tension of the retriever spring, the mechanism permitting the retriever spring to be again tensioned by pulling the cable from the drum and thus rotating the same reversely at a low speed.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to construct a trolley retriever embracing mechanism automatically thrown into operation by a sudden rotation of the cable drum, to interlock the drum with the retriever spring and subsequently release the spring to reverse the rotation of the drum and retrieve the cable thereon, and provided also with hand operated mechanism for releasing-said spring.

It is finally an object of this invention to construct a simple and eflicient trolley retriever consisting of few parts, which are compactly assembled and positive in voperation. a i I The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a car showing the same equipped with a retriever for the trolley embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the retriever. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken through the device with parts shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a face view of one side of the cable winding drum shown removed from the device and with parts of the mechanism attached thereon. Fig. 8 is an interior view of the mechanism similar to Fig. 6, with parts removed and parts shown in section. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the parts in another position of adjustment. Fig. 10 is an inner face view of the mechanism which is removed from Fig. 6, to illustrate the mechanisms shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is an edge view of one of the locking members shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is an edge view of another of the locking members shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 13 is an exterior end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 14 is a detail view of certain mechanisms shown in Fig. 6, with parts thereof in an adjusted position. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8, illustrating the coaction thereof with the releasing means which is shown in section.

As shown in the drawings, the reference numeral 1, indicates as a whole an interurban electric car provided with a trolley pole 2, the trolley wheel 3, of which is normally impelled into contact with a trolley wire 4, and with a trolley rope or cable 5, connected to the outer end of the trolley pole and into a retriever indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 6, connected on the rear end of the car. The casing of the retriever consists of three parts, one a cylindrical member denoted by the reference numeral 7 another a circular flanged plate 8, and the other a cylindrical member 9, which is bolted to said plate 8, said plate 8,

and the cylindrical member 7, being secured together by bolts extending through lugs provided on the periphery of each thereof. A pair of lugs 10, is formed on the upper side of the casing member 9, and pivoted therebetween is a dog 11, which is utilized in clamping the retriever upon a suitable bracket provided on the car.

J ournaled axially through the assembled retriever casing is a shaft 12, which at one end is rotatably mounted in a bushing 13, secured within the casing member 7 and at its other end extending through a long tubular extension of a circular locking plate or disk 14, having three sector shaped recesses in one face thereof, the tubular extension of which is journaled through a central aperture in the plate 8, which is flanged, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, to afford a bearing therefor. A cable drum or sheave 15, provided with a hub 16, is journaled on said shaft 12, the hub 16, projecting into a recessed or enlarged portion .of the bushing 13, as clearly shown in Fig 3. The inner end of said bushing 13, is provided with a notch in which the end of a light coiled spring 17, is engaged, the other end of said spring being secured to the inner surface of the periphery of the drum or sheave 15, with the stress ofsaid spring acting to rotate the drum in a direction to wind the rope thereon. Rigidly secured to the face of said cable drum 15, and coaxial therewith, is a ratchet wheel 18, and mounted on the outer flanged periphery of said sheave 15 are a plurality of centrifu gally acting pivoted dogs 19, each provided with a spring 20, which serves to normally maintain the same in a retracted position with the tail of each thereof in contact with a stop pin 21, secured in the face of the flange of the sheave. The end of each of said centrifugal pawls 19, is provided with a V-shaped notch 22, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, for a purpose hereinafter described. Pivoted on the face of the disk 14, is a spring impelled pawl 23, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18, although normally held from engagement therewith by the aforesaid spring designated by the reference numeral 24. Journaled on the shaft 12, between the ratchet wheel 18, and the disk 14, is a spider or locking lever member having three arms and denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 25, and each of said arms 25, is disposed in one of the sector shaped recesses in said plate 14. One of said arms, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 14, is provided with a pin or projection 26, which, when said arms are slightly rotated on the shaft, rides over the outer surface of the pawl 23, impelling the same downwardly against the stress of its spring into engagement with the ratchet wheel 18. A pair of small spiral springs, each denoted by the reference numeral 27 are connected on the surface of said disk 14, and also to one each of two of the member 25, to resist pivotal movement thereof on the shaft 12, with respect to the disk 14. As clearly shown in Figs. 3, 6, 14, and 15, the ends of two of the arms of the member 25, project beyond and extend inwardly over the peripheral edge of the disk 14, said projections being denoted by the reference numeral 28.

A pair of projections, indicated by the .reference numeral 29, are provided on the inner surface of the disk 14, as shown in Figs. 10 and 15, bemg of a less radlal distance from the shaft 12, than the projections 28, of the locking lever member 25, for a purpose hereinafter pointed out. Also searms of the spider cured fiat against the inner surface of the disk 14, is a double toothed cam 30, which is rigidly secured upon the tubular extension of said disk 14. Mounted within the casing member 9, is. a heavy retriever spring 31, one end of which, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, engages a tooth of a toothed wheel 32, which, together with said tubular extension of the disk' 14, is pinnedto the shaft 12, and the other end of said spring is secured to the walls of the casing member. The retriever spring 31, is normally under tension, but is held locked from driving the shaft 12, by mechanisms which may be released and serve to engage the cable drum 15, through said mechanisms to the shaft after the locking means has been released to drive the cable drum by the retriever spring in the event of the trolley pole becoming disengaged from the trolley wire.

Journaled upon the central flanged extension 0r hub of the plate 8, and lying flat against said plate, is a semi-circular releasing element 33, the hub 34, of which, as clearly shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 15, is cut away on one side for a purpose hereinafter pointed out. Formed on the face of said releasing element 33, and directed toward the winding sheave 15, and in the path of the centrifugal dogs 19, when the same are swung outwardly, are toothed projections 35, adapted to be engaged by the V-notched end of one of said centrifugal pawls 19, when the same is thrown outwardly, as shown in the position illustrated in Fig. 9. A tension spring 36, is connected at one of its ends to a fixed pin on the surface of said plate 8, and at its other end to said releasing element 33, to normally hold the same in a retracted position against a stop 37, provided on the face of the plate 8. Formed on the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall of the plate 8, is another stop or lug 38, which is adapted to limit the pivotal movement of the release member 33, against the tension of the coiled spring 36. Mounted upon the surface of the plate 8, below the hub 34, which is cut away to afford a clearance to permit movement .of the element 33, are locking mechanisms for the spider locking lever 25, and disk 14, and said mechanisms are capable of being released by a cam shaped or inclined abutment 39, forming a part of said release member 33, there being a small finger lever 40, also formed on said element 33, at this point projecting through a slot in the outer flange of the frame plate 8, for manual actuation of said release element when so desired.

The locking mechanisms referred to mounted on the plate 8, embrace a pair of guides 41, disposed approximately radially on the surface of said plate, and with another pair of guides 42, at right angles thereto with the passageways formed by the respective guides communicating with one another. Slidably mounted upon the surface of the plate 8, between the guides 41, is a block 43, the outer end of which is rounded off at an angle, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9, for easy engagement with the inclined surface of the cam portion 39, of the element 33. Projecting from the surface of said block 43, is a raised portion 44, the outer end of which is rounded, and this portion of the block serves to lock behind the respective projections 28 and 29, on the locking lever element 25, and disk 14, respectively, when the block is in normal retracted position under the impulse of a spring 45, provided for the purpose. Slidable between the guides 42, is another block 46, which is normally impelled inwardly in its guideway by a spring 47, attached on the plate 8. Pivoted on the face of the block 46, is a spring impelled pawl 48, adapted to engage one of the teeth on the toothed cam member 30, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 15. The inner end of the block 43, is provided with a recess 49, into which a projection on the inner end of the block 46, engages when said block 43, is driven inwardly by the cam element 39. The slidable block 46, when in engagement with the notch 49, of the block 43, serves to hold the same retracted, and this occurs during a winding operation of the cable sheave 15, under the impulse of the heavy retriever spring 31. If it is desired to lock the cable sheave 15, from rotation in either direction, a pin 50, mounted in the casing member 7, may be thrust inwardly to project the inner end thereof into an aperture in the flange of the sheave 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The operation is as follows: The normal position of the parts is such that the pawl 23, is out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 18, and the respective projections 28 and 29, on the locking lever spider member 25 and disk 14, respectively, are engaged behind the abutment 44, of the slidable release block 43. This of course prevents rotation of the disk 14, and holds the retriever spring 31, tensioned, inasmuch as the same is connected to said disk through the toothed wheel 32, which is pinned to the tubular extension of said disk 14. When the trolley pole leaves the wire and springs upwardly, the cable 5, is rapidly unwound from the drum 15, thereby rotating the same and causing the centrifugally acting pawls 19, to be thrown outwardly. One of said pawls will engage one of the projections 35, on the release semi-circular element 33, thus stop ping rotation of the drum or sheave and imparting a slight rotational movement to said release element 33. The rotational movement imparted to the release element 33, serves to cause the inclined or cam portion 39, thereon, to ride over the rounded end of the slidable block 43, impelling the same inwardly between its guides, thus releasing or moving the projecting portion 44, thereof, from behind the projections 28 and 29, of the locking lever spider and disk 14, respectively.

The release of the spider occurring as it does before that of the disk, due to the time required for the inward radial movement of the block 43, the springs 27, rotate the spider a small amount relative the disk 14, so that the pin 26, on the spider rides over the pawl 23, mounted on the disk, impelling the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel 18, on the winding drum 15. The engagement of the pawl 23, with the ratchet wheel serves to lock the winding drum or sheave 15, through the disk 14, and tubular extension thereof, to the heavy retriever spring 31, and the neXt occurrence is the release of the retriever spring to cause a reverse rotation of the sheave 15, to wind the trolley rope thereon. This occurs when the block 44, has moved inwardly sufficiently to release the projection 29, of said disk, the disk up to this time having remained stationary, so that the retriever spring 31, as it unwinds after release, rotates the sheave l5. lVith reverse rotation of the sheave 15, the centrifugal pawls 19, thereon, although they swing outwardly, merely click over the projections 35, on the release element, inasmuch as the direction of rotation is not such as to permit the pawls to engage and interlock with said projections. Of course the toothed cams 30, which are secured on the tubular extension of the disk 14, rotate therewith during a retrieving operation, the direction of rotation being counter-clockwise looking at Figs. 8 and 15, so that the pawl 48, may click over the toothed portions of the cam.

After the trolley has been retrieved, or in other words the tension of the retriever spring practically expended, the operator pulls out the required amount of trolley rope which has been wound up by the retriever, thus rotating the cable sheave 15, and causing the retriever spring 31, to be tensioned, owing to the fact that the elements are still locked to one another by the pawl 23, and ratchet wheel 18. During such rotation of the cable sheave the cam 30, on the disk 14, rotates in a clockwise direction, referring to Figs. 8 and 15, and one of the toothed portions thereof engages the pawl 48, in a direction to retract the slidable block 46. The projection on the inner end of said block being withdrawn from the recess 49, of the block 43, said block 43, is impelled radially outwardly under the impulse of its spring 45, and the respective projections 28 and 29, on the disk 14, and spider locking lever, con tinue to click successively over the raised portion 44, of said block, until the tension of the retriever spring 31, has reached a desired amount, and at this time the abutment 29, is prevented from retractive movement by the raised portion 44, but the rotation of the parts must be continued a slight amount to enable the abutment 28, to click over 44, and then upon release of the cable 15, the disk 14, rotates back due to the tension of the spring 31, until the abutment 29, 0011- tacts said raised portion 44. However, the spider lever 25, is not permitted such retractive movement due to the abutment 28, contacting the portion 44, and consequently the relative retractive movement of the disk 14, with respect to the lever 25, causes tensioning of the springs 27. The pin 26, on said spider lever thus moves into a position which permits the pawl 23 to swing outwardly under the impulse of its spring 24, thus disconnecting the sheave 15, from the retriever spring and its associated elements. The retriever spring having been tensioned and the pawl 23, swinging outwardly, the projections 28 and 29, of the locking lever and disk respectively, are both engaged behind the abutment 44, of the slidable block 43, to prevent reverse rotation of said disk 14, and lever 25, to maintain stress upon the retriever spring.

Any desired tension within certain limits may be imposed upon the heavy retriever spring 31, by sufficient rotation of the cable sheave 15, and as the same rotates with the pawl 23, engaged with the ratchet wheel of the sheave, the respective projections 28 and 29, click over the projecting portion 44, of the spring impelled block 43. If for any reason it is desired to manually release the retriever to cause the retriever spring to rotate the cable sheave, the short hand lever 40, projecting through a slot in the casing, may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 8, to that shown in Fig. 9, thereby causing the cam element 39, to ride over the rounded end of the slidable block 43, retracting the same and releasing the respective projections 28 and 29, in proper sequence to interlock the retriever spring with the cable sheave and thereafter release the locking disk and retriever spring to cause rotation of the sheave thereby.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: I

1. In a device of the class described a cable sheave, a retriever spring, mechanism acting to connect said cable sheave and retriever spring, oscillatable means mounted therebetween, and a cam integrally formed on said means acting thereafter to release lit said mechanism to cause rotation of the sheave by said spring.

2. In a device of the class described a cable sheave, a spring normally acting to reslst rotation thereof in one direction, a retriever spring normally under tension, pawl and ratchet means for connecting said sheave and retriever spring one to another, lever locking mechanism associated therewith, and means operating centrifugally to actuate said lever locking mechanism to interlock said pawl and ratchet means and cause release of said retriever spring to rotate said sheave thereby.

3. In a device of the class described a cable sheave, a light spring acting normally to rotate the same in one direction, a retriever spring, pawl and ratchet mechanisms adapted to be connected between said retriever spring and cable sheave to cause rotation of the sheave by said retriever spring, means operating centrifugally to cause interlocking of said pawl and ratchet means, and slidable locking mechanism associated with said means to hold the same locked to permit tensioning of said spring.

4:. In a device of the class described a casing, a shaft journaled therein, a sheave journaled on said shaft, a heavy retriever spring connected to said shaft, a disk having a plurality of radial recesses therein mounted on said shaft and connected to said retriever spring, pawl and ratchet means connected between said disk and sheave whereby said sheave may be rotated by said spring, a locking means engaged in said recesses to limit the relative movement of said locking means with respect to said disk to interlock said pawl and ratchet means, and mechanism operating to release said retriever spring thereafter.

5. In a device of the class described a cable sheave, a light spring acting normally to rotate the same in one direction, a heavy retriever spring, a disk having recesses in one face thereof connected to said retriever spring, a locking spider engaging said recesses to limit the movement of said spider with respect to said disk, said spider normally holding said disk from rotation by said retriever spring, pawl and ratchet mechanism connected between said disk and cable sheave and normally disengaged, and means operating centrifugally to operate said locking spider to permit engagement of said pawl and ratchet mechanism and cause release of said disk to permit rotation of the cable sheave by said retriever spring.

6. In a device of the class described a cable sheave, aheavy retriever spring normally under tension, means operating to connect said sheave to said spring, a sprlng controlled pivotal device therebetween adapted to lock said means, and locking mechanism operating subsequently thereto.

to release said retriever spring and cause rotation of said cable sheave thereby.

7. In a device of the class described a cable sheave, means acting normally to re sist rotation thereof, a heavy retriever spring, means connecting said retriever spring to said cable sheave when said cable sheave is rotated, a spring controlled lever connected with said means adapted to lock the same, locking mechanism for said lever to prevent release thereof, and mechanism permitting tensioning of said retriever spring by reverse rotation of said cable sheave after release of the retriever spring.

8. In a device of the class described a casing, a shaft journaled therein, a cable sheave journaled on said shaft, a light coiled spring acting normally to rotate the sheave to wind the cable thereon, a ratchet wheel associated with the sheave, a heavy retriever spring connected to said shaft and to the casing, a locking disk journaled in said casing and rigidly secured to said shaft, a pawl mounted on said disk and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a locking lever acting when released to move said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel to lock the cable sheave connected to the retriever spring through said disk for rotation of the sheave by the retriever spring, and slidable locking mechanism mounted on said casing adapted to lock said locking lever and said disk to prevent a retracti-ve movement of said retriever spring.

9. In a device of the class described a casing, a shaft journaled therein, a notched wheel secured on said shaft, a heavy retriever spring connected at one of its ends to said casing and at its other end to sa1d notched wheel, a locking disk mounted on said shaft having a plurality of sector shaped recesses therein, a cam associated therewith, a locking lever mounted ad acent said disk adapted to be engaged in sa1d recesses for controlling the movement of sa1d lever with respect to said disk, pro ect1ons on said lever and said disk, a slidable spring actuated block mounted on said casing acting normally to engage behind sa1d pro ections on said lever and disk, a releaseelement journaled on said shaft, a cam lntegrally formed therein adapted to retract said block to release said locking lever and cable sheave, a heavy retriever spring for operating the same, means having recesses therein connecting said sheave and spring for operation, locking means engaged in said recesses to maintain said sheave and spring looked, centrifugally operating means mounted on said sheave, a release element adapted to be engaged thereby, and mechanisms operated by said release element to actuate the locking means between said 10 sheave and spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES E. GUNDRY.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. DoNLAN, VILLIAM J. CALLAGHAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissi ner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

